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Responsible tourism

Responsible tourism: Sea kayaking in Halong bay, Vietnam

Environment

As a professional eco-tour operator, protecting the environment and ecology is our prime commitment. Our guides are well trained and can make suggestions that help travellers minimize any damage to environment or ecosystem. We understand the importance of energy and strive to reduce our use of fossil fuel. We also use recycled materials for every kayaking trip e.g. replacing plastic water bottles with glass ones.

We know and understand our community and people of Halong bay. Our kayaking guide is local and we use local restaurants, boats, porters and transport. We support local victims of typhoons and hurricanes with financial donations.

Considering the traveller as an important social link between different peoples and cultures, our aim is to help give a better understanding of the history and social and cultural life of Vietnamese people. However, we also recognise the importance of maintaining the culture and customs of Vietnam.

We have made a commitment to constantly give the best service to travellers, in a professional way, to help develop the local tourist industry, which is an essential part of Vietnam's economic development.

Community

The Sea Canoe Vietnam – only Franchise Partner of John Gray Sea Canoe in Vietnam promises to support our community by our best efforts.

60% of Vietnamese population are the farmers and living in the countryside where are almost in the blind side of the high level education system and health care services. On every trip, we promise to generate the opportunity and condition to make the connection between the travelers with the local community or people.

By operating the trip in the remote side and village like in the floating village in Halong Bay, the poor villager will have the chance for joining the tourism industry to get more profit by using the local services (handy crafts souvenirs, accommodation or to be the local guide). In other hand, the children will understand the needed for reading, writing or learning a foreign language.

By providing book and newspaper to the village, the villagers will get more information from the outside and changing their perception about the natural to avoid hunting the wild animal or burning the forest.

We promise never ever to encourage the traveler for hunting and buying the natural animal and valuable plantation.

We promise for using the natural-friendly energy in our every trip. We will not support for low-tech and natural-harm vehicles in our every trip.

Reviews of Sea kayaking in Halong bay, Vietnam

You can trust Responsible Travel reviews because, unlike many other schemes, reviews can ONLY be written by people who we have verified have been on the holidays.

I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on

Some great stories to tell the grandchildren. Would recommend to a friend

Very enjoyable

It was OK

A bit disappointing really

Reviewed on 07 Dec 2009 by Susan Pidgeon

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Paddling through dark caves to hidden lagoons. We had them to ourselves most of the time. The guide had 14 years experience as a kayak guide and knew the best places, away from the crowds. On the last day, the guide took me to a cave and lagoon he had only recently discovered. I also enjoyed the meals on the boat. The food was fresh and delicious, especially the seafood. The young crew were also a lot of fun.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Don't assume it will be warm. I went in November and it was quite cold (winter had started). Day time temperatures were about 14 or 15 degrees centigrade. The water was still very warm and so the kayaking was still very pleasant but you will need a couple of layers to keep warm.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes. The crew and the guide were all local.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Very enjoyable. I had opted for a three day kayaking trip which meant there was time to cruise to parts of Ha Long Bay away from most of the other boats. (Most boats are on one or two day cruises and so don't venture as far away from port.) Having such an experienced guide also meant I had no concerns about safety. We used a double kayak, with the guide doing the paddling in the dark caves. I had read some horror reviews on the internet from travellers who had got into serious difficulties in dark caves with strong currents. Also accounts of tour operators who simply put tourists into kayaks as an optional extra on what are essentially standard cruises rather than genuine kayaking trips. This company 's speciality is kayaking and can tailor make a trip for any level of experience. I certainly recommend it.